Mike Ashley’s Frasers faces shareholder revolt over exec bonus Investing Frasers Group, the retail empire owned by Mike Ashley, is facing an investor revolt over a bonus handed to its finance chief for “doing his job”. Two influential shareholder proxies have urged the firm’s investors to slap down its executives’ pay package at its annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday. The dispute centres around a [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers ousts Hugo Boss chairman Retail Frasers Group, the retail empire run by Mike Ashley, has overthrown the chairman of Hugo Boss as it seeks control of the German fashion house. The UK fashion group, which owns Sports Direct, Jack Wills and Flannels, told investors on Monday that Stephan Sturm, chairman of Hugo Boss’ supervisory board, has agreed to step aside. [...]
Wetherspoon boss: ‘Not up to Burnham’ to choose who is on the high street Hospitality Britain’s pubs have few more committed defenders than Sir Tim Martin. The Norwich-born businessman founded JD Wetherspoon in 1979 when he bought his first pub in Muswell Hill, initially named Martin’s Free House. Since rebranding the pub to Wetherspoon – named after a former teacher of Martin’s who could not control his class – it [...]
Pernod Ricard’s results highlight the challenges for Scotch September 10, 2026 In this month’s issue of Whisky Business, Ian Fraser takes a look at the results of the drinks giant Pernod Ricard and how the company is dealing with the headwinds hitting the sector. Scotch whisky makes up roughly a quarter (23 per cent) of Pernod Ricard’s global sales, but barely got a look-in at the Paris-based [...]
Victoria Beckham’s fashion empire warns on ‘uncertain’ future September 9, 2026 Victoria Beckham’s luxury fashion empire has warned on its future, cautioning that the group will have to seek emergency funding if its lenders demand their money back. The former Spice Girl‘s up-market label returned a profit for the first time in the year to December but warned that the “material uncertainties” it faces could cast [...]
Victoria Beckham owed £350,000 by Harvey Nichols September 3, 2026 Victoria Beckham could be about to lose as much as £350,000 from Harvey Nichols after the celeb was named among creditors to the luxury department store who are expected to miss out on most of the £270m they are owed. The fashion designer and TV personality was owed £353,349 by the department store chain when [...]
‘Misleading’ Frasers ad banned amid feud with watchdog September 2, 2026 The advertising watchdog has censured Frasers Group for running a “misleading” ad just days after its finance chief ramped up a bitter row with the regulator. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned an online advert published by Sports Direct, which is owned by Frasers, for a Puma sports top which it said misled shoppers [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers weighs move to oust Hugo Boss chief September 1, 2026 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is weighing up a move to oust a boardroom chair at Hugo Boss as it laid out fresh plans to grow its stake in the German fashion house. The retail group, which was founded by the British billionaire, told investors on Tuesday that it wants to control more than half of [...]
‘They want business on board’: How Reform UK is wooing City chiefs at its conference September 1, 2026 Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is on a mission to win over businesses before the next election. Maurício Alencar and Ali Lyon report on how the party’s upcoming conference in Birmingham could determine its political future. By the time Britain’s executives descend on the Reform UK party conference this week, many will already be well-acquainted with [...]
October Budget could be a ‘tipping point,’ Asda boss warns Burnham August 28, 2026 Andy Burnham’s first Budget in October could be a “tipping point” for British businesses and the economy, the chair of supermarket giant Asda has warned. Allan Leighton, who is attempting to push through a turnaround of the grocer, said it is “too early to tell” whether the government is committed to halting the rise of [...]